Leisure Time Centre could reopen in term 3

THE Surf Coast Shire council has been recommended to put $110,000 of funding towards getting Winchelsea’s Leisure Time Centre (LTC) fixed and reopened.

According to the officers’ report presented to councillors at their meeting on Tuesday this week, the Victorian School Building Authority (VSBA) requested an engineering report into the LTC repairs, which found they would have an overall estimated cost of $353,722.93.

Based on the existing agreement between the shire, the Department of Education and Training (DET) and the Winchelsea Primary School, the shire would contribute 30 per cent of this figure.

If funded, the works are expected to be finished during term 3 of 2022.

Located on the grounds of the Winchelsea Primary School, the LTC has been closed since May after the school noticed further movement in the floorboards from moisture levels underneath the floor and deemed the facility unsafe for use.

Winchelsea resident Tony Phelps submitted a petition with 620 signatures to the shire in July urging the council to finish the repairs to the LTC and reopen it as soon as possible.

In August, the council noted the shire was waiting for more details from the VSBA and Winchelsea Primary School on the works required to repair the centre.

The council also noted its joint use agreement (JUA) with the DET and Winchelsea Primary School about the LTC would expire in December, and a new agreement would need to be drawn up.

The officers’ report states that the DET run condition assessments every five years on all of their facilities, and a recent assessment by the primary school identified the LTC needed $40,000 worth of coming maintenance works.

“These works will not be funded through DET as the building is above the school’s entitlement. These works as well as ongoing maintenance works will need to be factored into a future JUA and how they will be funded.”

The proposed term of the new agreement would be for 20 years with an option for a 10-year extension to this agreement.

Officers state that there will likely be a future need for the provision of indoor sporting and recreational activities in Winchelsea and the LTC’s “the only existing site that has the potential to accommodate such activities, but is not currently fit-for-purpose”.

“Under the current JUA, Council contributes to 30 per cent of maintenance costs (but this has been higher in recent years due to the school indicating that they do not have funds to pay for some maintenance requirements). Council currently insures the building and undertakes the Essential Safety Measures of the facility.”